Title: Shadow of the Eternal Flame - Chapter 9 : A Break From War

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A full week had passed since the battle.

A week of treatment and rest.

And a whole week in which the village of Aros talked about only one thing...

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The battle against Radis.

The strongest knight of the Kingdom of Ice.

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That morning, Khaled walked out of the hospital, stretching in exhaustion.

He took a deep breath of the air.

Then smiled.

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"Finally..."

"I was going crazy staying there."

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Nearby, Abdulrahman was also coming out.

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Khaled looked at him and said:

"You know what?"

"I think we’ve become real friends now."

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Abdulrahman laughed.

"I think that already happened the moment you decided to drag yourself into all this trouble with me."

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And they both laughed.

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That evening...

The village of Aros was filled with lights.

Children ran everywhere.

Music echoed through the streets.

And decorations were being hung all around.

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The two companions looked around in confusion as they spoke to the village elder:

"What is happening?"

"They’re preparing a celebration," the elder replied with a smile.

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"A celebration?!"

"What kind of celebration?"

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"A celebration for your survival in the last battle," he said with a light laugh.

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They both became angry.

"It was us who barely survived!"

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The elder continued:

"And also in honor of a guest who returned after many years away from the village... one of my former students."

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Today was no ordinary celebration.

It was a celebration of the village’s victory.

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The elder stood in the center of the square.

Then said with a smile:

"I want to introduce someone who has been away for years... one of my oldest students."

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"Catalina."

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Suddenly...

A blonde girl entered, the wind playing with her hair. She wore a white cloak, and her face carried striking beauty. A long decorated staff rested on her back.

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She smiled confidently.

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All the village children ran toward her, hugging her and welcoming her warmly.

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Except for the two companions.

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They stood confused, not knowing who she was.

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Khaled whispered to Abdulrahman:

"She looks strong."

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Abdulrahman replied:

"Let’s challenge her immediately."

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Catalina stood before the elder and bowed respectfully.

"Hello, old man."

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"You’ve been away from the village for a long time, my girl," he said.

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He then said:

"These are Khaled and Abdulrahman, my strongest students."

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She looked at them.

Then said:

"And these are the geniuses who almost died against Radis?"

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Silence fell.

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"How did you know that?"

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"Ha! Everyone around here is talking about you."

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"But how did you not die? You must have run away from him."

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The entire crowd burst into laughter.

Khaled and Abdulrahman’s faces filled with anger.

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During the celebration...

Everyone discovered something strange.

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Catalina ate more than both Khaled and Abdulrahman combined.

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Plate after plate... after plate...

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Until the villagers stared in shock.

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Abdulrahman said:

"Where does all that food go?"

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She shrugged while continuing to eat.

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Khaled said:

" she’s stronger than Radis when it comes to eating."

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Everyone laughed, even the elder himself.

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Hours passed quickly.

It was one of the most beautiful celebrations the village had seen in years.

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Everyone laughed, played, and sang.

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For the first time...

There was no battle.

No chase.

No monsters.

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Only laughter.

Friends.

And peaceful moments.

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Late at night...

Khaled and Abdulrahman sat on a high hill.

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They watched the stars.

The breeze touched them, and silence filled the place.

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The village looked small from up there.

Strangely peaceful.

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A long silence passed.

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Then Khaled said:

"Abdulrahman..."

"Do you promise me something?"

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He looked at him.

"What?"

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Khaled smiled.

"No matter what happens..."

"No matter how hard things get..."

"Don’t abandon me."

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A brief silence fell.

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Then Abdulrahman smiled.

And held out his hand.

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"You too..."

"Don’t abandon me."

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They shook hands.

Under the light of the stars.

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Not far away...

The elder and Catalina watched the scene.

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The elder smiled.

"This is the meaning of true friendship."

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Catalina silently watched them.

Then smiled as well.

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"I believe the bond between them is stronger than any evil."

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The next morning...

Khaled and Abdulrahman were training.

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Trying to recreate their combined attack from the battle against Neil.

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Once.

Twice.

Ten times.

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But they failed every time.

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Catalina laughed.

"You two are truly talentless."

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Khaled shouted:

"Stop saying that!"

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Abdulrahman added:

"We are geniuses!"

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She replied:

"Genius failures."

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After hours of training...

The elder said:

"I’ve found the problem. Abdulrahman’s magical energy is much stronger than Khaled’s due to the sword that enhances his power. That’s why the combined attack fails. Both energies must be at the same level."

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Khaled turned to Abdulrahman:

"So you’re the problem."

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"You're the weak one," Abdulrahman replied.

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They started arguing again... then returned to training.

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After finishing their old techniques, the elder clapped.

"Good."

"But you still have a long way to go."

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"Not before we shut that girl up for calling us weak."

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"Then come and fight me."

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"If you manage to land even one hit, I will acknowledge your strength."

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Khaled said confidently:

"Easy."

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They all stood in the square as the air grew tense.

As everyone in the village gathered to watch the training, which turned into a friendly battle.

Khaled attacked first with his sword, using shadow power. But Catalina activated a shield that completely blocked his attack.

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Abdulrahman unleashed multiple fireballs, but the shield absorbed them all.

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They thought carefully.

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"We found it." they said together.

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Abdulrahman fired a massive blue fireball. Catalina dodged it. Khaled struck from above—but she blocked again.

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"You won’t hit me," she said.

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"Who said we’re trying to hit you anyway?"

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She turned around—only to find Khaled emerging from her shadow.

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He struck with his dark sword, but she narrowly dodged.

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Then suddenly...

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His sword disappeared. His energy was drained.

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"My shield absorbs magical energy. You can’t attack while inside it," she said.

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The elder said:

"Catalina is a defensive mage. She has grown much stronger after her journey."

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Abdulrahman shouted angrily:

"I’m tired of this!"

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He slammed the ground, flames erupting everywhere.

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Catalina leapt away, barely dodging another attack.

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Then she said:

"You can’t hit me."

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"Who said we’re trying to hit you?"

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She turned—seeing Khaled’s dark energy beam rushing toward her. She dodged again.

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"Now it’s time for offense," she said.

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She activated a full-body shield and counterattacked relentlessly.

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Then Abdulrahman said:

"Let’s do it."

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Fire exploded. Darkness struck. Confusion filled the field.

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Until finally...

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They were defeated.

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Her sword rested on their necks.

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"I win."

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The elder corrected her:

"No. You have a scratch on your face. You said even a hit counts."

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She accepted defeat.

"Fine... you are strong."

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"But still... idiots."

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Everyone laughed.

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That evening...

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Khaled said:

"The world must be big, right?"

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The elder replied:

"Not very. I once traveled across it in my youth."

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"There are many kingdoms... giant cities... lands no human has ever stepped into... and guilds of the strongest warriors and mages."

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Abdulrahman asked:

"Stronger than us?"

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The elder laughed.

"Much stronger."

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Khaled asked:

"Even stronger than Radis?"

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The elder’s smile faded slightly.

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"Radis... did not fight you at full strength."

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Shock filled them.

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"What?!"

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"He only used half his power."

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Silence fell.

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Half his power... after all that destruction?

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Abdulrahman said in disbelief:

"You’re joking."

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"No. He was testing you."

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The elder continued:

"Radis enjoys fighting. That’s why he didn’t finish the battle early."

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Khaled felt a chill.

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If that was only half his power...

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Then what about the full extent?

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The elder added:

"And worse..."

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"Radis is not even among the top ten strongest people in the world."

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Silence deepened.

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"What?!"

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"Above him... are the Five Kings."

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"The Five Kings?" Catalina asked.

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"Rulers of the world," the elder said.

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"Each of them holds a legendary weapon."

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"Legendary weapons?" Khaled asked.

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"There are ten in total. Five main and five secondary."

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"But the strongest of them... no one knows its true limit."

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Abdulrahman looked at the elder.

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"Have you seen one?"

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The elder smiled and raised his wooden staff.

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"Yes. This one."

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"A secondary legendary weapon."

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Silence.

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Then all three burst into laughter.

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Catalina said:

"I swear I saw him hanging clothes on it yesterday."

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"..."

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"You are all disrespectful," the elder said, slightly annoyed.

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He then calmed down and simply smiled, saying nothing more.

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Far away... inside the Ice Palace...

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The Ice King sat on his throne.

Radis stood before him.

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"You failed," the king said calmly.

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Radis lowered his head.

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"You enjoyed the fight... didn’t you?"

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"And you did not use your full power. That’s why you let them live."

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Radis did not deny it.

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"Forgive me, my lord."

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Silence.

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"You will leave tomorrow."

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"Where?"

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"The Frozen North. Where the weak do not return. Train there... and come back stronger. I will make sure you never fail again."

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Radis raised his head.

Then smiled.

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A small smile—but one that carried a new purpose.

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"As you wish, my lord."

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That night... Radis disappeared.

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No one knew where he went.

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Meanwhile, in Aros Village...

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The heroes laughed.

Joked.

Unaware that the real world...

Had not yet begun.

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While they waited for the elder’s endless answers...

....................

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To be continued...

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